Mikhail Simonyan in Benefit for Afghanistan Music School
As part of his “Beethoven Not Bullets” initiative, Russian-Armenian violinist Mikhail Simonyan joins musicians from the New York Philharmonic on June 14 in a concert to benefit the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul. The concert, presented by Music Unites and City Winery, will feature music written by legendary violin virtuoso and composer Nathan Milstein, Johan Halvorsen’s notoriously difficult passacaglia for violin and viola on a theme by Handel, and Brahms’ Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25, No. 1, for piano, violin, viola and cello. Simonyan will join the full New York Philharmonic for his debut as soloist June 29 and 30 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. musicunites.org/events

National Youth Orchestra of Iraq Seeks
Donations of Instruments and Music
The National Youth Orchestra of Iraq and music director Paul MacAlindin need donations of violas and printed music for a two-week course in Erbil, Kurdish Iraq starting at the end of July. MacAlindin asks donors to ship instruments to the League of American Orchestras’ 65th National Conference where he will be representing the NYOI. Those interested can contact MacAlindin at macalindin@hotmail.com.

International Double Bass Solo Competition
The Bradetich Foundation presents its inaugural International Double Bass Solo Competition, hosted by the University of North Texas, June 16–20. A total of 21 double bassists will compete for a gold medal prize of $10,000 and a New York debut at Carnegie Hall. The silver medalist will earn $5,000 and the bronze medalist will receive $2,500. All three will earn CD recording and distribution, concerts, and master classes throughout the United States and abroad, and four years of career development. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges as well as the audience. Performance rounds and master classes are free and open to the public. bradetichfoundation.org/competition.php

Judgement Day Violinist Composes Music For Award-Winning Film
The award-winning short film Rose, with music by Judgement Day violinist Anton Patzner, has been released as a free streaming video. The 30-minute ghost story written and directed by Hoku Uchiyama, a Cannes Young Director Award second-place winner, won praise at festivals worldwide in 2007 including awards at the Newport Beach and Bahamas International film festivals among others. Patzner trades in Judgment Day’s earth-shattering metal riffs for lush melodies and delicate textures reminiscent of classic soundtracks from Danny Elfman (Edward Scissorhands, Beetle Juice, The Simpsons) and Thomas Newman (American Beauty). rosethemovie.com/movie.html

League of American Orchestras 65th National Conference
The League of American Orchestras’ 65th National Conference will be hosted June 15–19 by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  Highlights include performances of Verdi’s Requiem and an Atlanta School of Composers Concert, a master class by music director Robert Spano, and announcement of the winners of the annual ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming. americanorchestras.org